Beauty

[Riki]

[Joachim Lovelace, continued from Red as Blood]

Joachim's run has slowed down to a slow, shaken walk. This was because his eyes were fixated on the red tip of his blade. That made it difficult to avoid falling down when running. However, the main reason was that he felt drained. Devoid of any energy. As if he has spent everything on hunting Carmina.

Carmina... her blood was still fresh. Her innocent, young blood. Spilled by him in a rush of ecstasy.

A familiar voice called out. Jaq's voice. The one who decided that Carmina had to die. Only so that they could live for another 24 hours.

"She's not coming back."

Of course she would not come back. Joachim knew that. Still, hearing Jaq announcing Carmina's end was unsettling for Joachim. He ran away. Like a coward. Planning to give her a swift death, but chocking up and fleeing like a useless fool. A part of him hoped, even thought, that Jaquilyn killed her. Not only for Carmina, but also to take the burden from Joachim.

Maybe he should have asked. Ask Jaq what happened after he left. But instead, seconds passed. Terrible, agonizing seconds. A question formed itself in Joachim's mind. A very important question. Eventually he asked.

"What do we do now?"

"We keep it up, keep surviving."

"But what now?"

Surviving, huh? Did that mean that he would have to kill again in 24 hours. Probably. And when Jaq would ask Joachim and he would say yes, again. He could not deny the immense joy he felt during the hunt. It was a brief period of time, only a few minutes. But in these few minutes, he forgot all the questions, all the doubts. And all the guilt.

"Our shit's at the clubhouse."

"Alright, we go there then."

Come to think of it... Jaquilyn was the one with the gun. She was the one with the power. And Joachim decided to abandon all responsibility to her, right? And also, Carmina was doomed anyway. If not for Joachim, someone else, like Theodore would have killer her. Or Hansel. Or Katarina. Or anyone else. Fate already decided that Carmina had to die. Everything that Joachim did was executing what others planned. He was a pawn. Nothing more. And that is why he should not feel guilty.

Did that make sense?

"Yeah..." Jaq held the gun towards Joachim. "Do you want to take this?"

He eyed the weapon for a short moment, but his eyes went back to the crimson knife.

Did it make any goddamn sense?

"No."

[Joachim Lovelace, continued in Interstice of Time]